Evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of encapsulated cumin seed essential oil in chickpea protein–maltodextrin matrix and its potential to extend the shelf life of meatballs

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of cumin seed essential oil (CEO) after encapsulation in chickpea protein–maltodextrin matrix by spray drying and to provide insight into potential use as a natural ingredient in meat-based products. The surface morphology results of encapsulated CEO showed the dispersion in the wall material matrix, and the observed specific common peaks in the FT-IR spectra of encapsulated and non-encapsulated CEO proved the successful encapsulation. The antibacterial activity of non-encapsulated CEO against Escherichia coli BC1402, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 0402, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were first evaluated by disc diffusion assay. P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and S. Typhimurium ATCC 0402 were more sensitive with the inhibition zones ranging from 11.20 to 12.66 mm. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration was noted for non-encapsulated CEO against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (0.5 mg/mL) and the highest minimum bactericidal concentration (16 mg/mL) was found for encapsulated CEO against S. aureus ATCC 25923. In addition to notable microbial inhibition activity, in situ antibacterial activity of CEO for meatballs was remarkable along nitrite. The microbial load of meatballs without any additives increased with storage time (4.08–10.50 log CFU/g). At the end of the storage (14 days, 4 °C), the antibacterial activity of encapsulated and non-encapsulated CEO was statistically different (p < 0.05) from nitrite in terms of total aerobic mesophilic (6.35–6.54 log CFU/g) and total coliform (2.63–3.09 log CFU/g). In conclusion, the encapsulated CEO was identified as a potential natural alternative for synthetic preservatives for meat-based products. The findings of this study can pave the way for future studies in this area.